Atttomobile-btjmpek



A. i.. MCGREGUR.

AUTMUBHE BUMPER.

`(wmmmlm men MAR. 24. rszo.

` ylfgtnted Jan. 18, 1921.

ALLAN L. MGGBEGOB, OF GHIClAdO, ILLINOIS).

AUTOMOBILE-BUMPER.

Specification of Letters Extent.

Patented Jan.' 1s, 1921.

Application led March 24, 1920. Serial No. `368,465.

T0 all who/m 'it fmcy concern:

Be it known that l, ALLAN L. Moiinncon, u citizen of the llnitedtntes, and :i resident of (ihicugo, `in the county of Cook und Stute of 'lllinois,have invented certain new und. usefuh Improvements in Automobile- Bumpers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile bumpers, and more particularly to those devices adapted for attachment to the front or rear end of motor vehicles for the purpose of protecting the vehicle from damage 4in the event of collision with other vehicles or objects.

The purpose oi this invention is to provide a new and novel structure for a device of the character described, embodyingr in general a bumper structure composed of members havingr a degree of resiliency calculated to absorb the shock of impact, und further to provide a structure having an increased impact surface throughout its central portion, thereby aiorrling lf1-eater degrec of protection to -the vehicle.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of n bumper| attached to the end of the vehicle frame and in connection With. so-callecl VVestingrhouse type of shock absorbers.

`ig. 2 is a front view in elevation of the bumper, and

Fig. 3 is n top plan view of the bumper structure connected directly to the frame members of the vehicle,x

A preferable constriiction oi'` a bumper embodying: the features of my 'invention comprises a central impact section i. a -resr section 2, und end sections 3, 3 formed integral with the rear section 2 und located, on either side of the'ccntral impact section 1 and lying substantially in the plane thereof. The sections of the bumper are preferably formed of resilient metal of bar form and of such dimensions as to be yieldable in horizontal directions and relatively nonyieldable in vertical directions.

The central impact section comprises two;

parallel and vertically spaced bars 4, 4 of a. length substantially equal to the width of the vehicle frame, although less than the width of thebumper structure, seid bars 4, 4 being connected together at their ends and likewise to the end sections, 3, by means of clamping members or junction plates 5, 5, hereinafter to be described more in detail.

f As before suggested, the rear section 2 of the end sections 3, Bure formed inte ral with each other and preferably .forme lfrom u single bnr of metal by bending the end portions thereof int'o U-form, thus providing;I u substantially straight rear section 2 and comlmratively short end sections 3, 3 spaced forwardly from the rear portion '2 and in parallel relation therewith, said end portions 3, 3 terminating inwardly from the extremities of the bumper a distance equal to substantially one-third of the width thereof.

Referring more in detail to the structure of the central ximpact section 1 and the junction plates 5. 5, erich of the latter comprises a metal plate having n shape resembling that of a T. said platte comprising arms 6, 6 extending transversely to the bumper strucv ture, there being: provided slots in said `arms for receiving the ends of the bers 4, 4i. Like- Wise, there is formed in each of the plates a longitudinal channel extending,r cent-rally thereof and between the arms 6, 6, said channel being adapted to receive the free end portion of each end'section 3, 3. A plurality of bolts 7 extend through the plate and act to clamp the sume Securely to the end section 3, and klikewise to clamp' `the ends of the bars 4, 4 securely to the plate.

By this construction an impact bnr is provided consisting.,r of forward and rear impact members or sections, the forward impact section having;r th central portion thereof formed of vertiell y spaced bars which provide increased impact. areav calculated to afford n great. protection against injury to the more vital parts of the vehicle in the event of collision with obstacles of various` kinds. If, for any reason, an obstacle should pass betweenA the bars 4, 4 of the centra-l impact section 1 the rear section 2, being located between the bars 4, 4, would receive the imp-uct and thus prevent injury. Tn uddition to its function as an intermediate bur located between the bars 4, 4 of the central impact -section,1, the rear section 2 provides a secondlry or reinforcing impact member serving to absorb a portion of the shock of impact should the central impact section be driven against it, thus affording greater degrec of strength throughout the bumper structure and acting to resist the forces which would tend to permanently distort any part of the bumper inasmuch as it is u continuous bar extending throughout the wlidth of A e bumper and is irltegral with the end sections 3, 3.4

As a means for connecting the bumper bar yto the vehicle frame, there are employed clamping sleeves which surround the rear section 2 and end sections 3, 3, at a point inward] from the. extremities of the bumper, Said s eeves being constructed to beclamped in place and to have pivotal connection with connecting bars 9, 9 extending forwardly from the end of the vehicle frame. In Figs. l and 2 the vehicle frame members lll, l0 are provided at their ends with shock absorbers 11, 11 of the so-called Westinghouse type, consisting of vertically arranged cylinders, said shock absorbers being tied together by means of a rod 12. As n means or connecting the bars 9, 9 to the vehicle, the same are mounted on the ends ot' the rod 12 and heldin place by means of the nuts 13, 13. In Fi 3 is illustrated the bumper bor, showing t e manner in which the same would be connected directly to the frame members 10, 10, namely, by extending the connecting bars 14, 14 rearwardly beyond the ends of the frame members and clamping said bars thereto by means ofsuitab e clamping members 15, l5.

Although I have illustrated and described the preferred1 embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited ex'cefpt in so far as the invention is more speci cally described in the ap pended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automobile bumper, the combination of a central impact section comprising a bar extendin throu hout the length ci the bumper an its ents bent forwardly in Ushape, forming relatively short end scclions and a. forward central impact section extcndin between and rigidly connected with saida end sections.

2. In an automobile bumper, the combina-- tion of a central impact section comprising parallel bars yspaced apart vertically, a rearwardly disposed bar extending throughout the le h of the bumperand its ends bent forwar ly in U-shape, forming end sections terminating in the plane of said eentral impact section, and clamping members rigidly conncctinv' the ends of ,said central impact section unf said end sections` 3, In an automobile bumper, the combinatio'n of u central impact section, comprising parallel bars spaced apart verticall n rear' waydly disposed bar havingr its en portions benjt forwardly in U-shapc, forming relatively short end sections terminatingr adjacent the ends ot said central impact section, :und means rigidly connectin the cnds of said central impact section anc said end sec tions.

4. In an automobile bumper, the combination of a central impact section, comprising parallel bars spaced apart vertically, a rearwardly disposed bnr having its end portions bent forwardly in U-shape forming relatively short end sections .terminating between the ends of said central impact section. and clamping members rigidly connecting the adjacent ends of said central impact section and said end portiops.

5. In an automobile bumper, the combination of an impact member comprising a bar extending throughout thc length of the im` pact member and having its end portions bent U-shapcd and terminating a short distance inwardly beyond the ends of the impact member, and a central impact section comprising parallel bars spaced apart verti cally, clamping plates rigidly connecting the ends ot' said bars of the impact section together, and having rigid connection with said end portions.

(i. In an automobile bumper, the combination of an impact member comprising a bar extending throughout the length of the impact member and having its end portions bent Ushaped and terminating a short dis tance beyond the ends of the impact memr bei', and an impact section comprising parallel bars spaced apart vertically, clampin plates rigidly connecting the ends of sai:v bars of the impact section together, and having rigid connection with said end sections intermediate the bars oi said cent-ral impact section.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this Uth day of March, A. D., 10o

ALLAN L. MCGREGOR. 

